Title: Experiences in operating a 100 kW rooftop PV plant in an educational institution in India

Authors: M. Gopinath Murali; S. Arul Daniel

Addresses: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Trichirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Trichirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: The performance of a grid-interactive roof-mounted 100 kWp solar photovoltaic power plant at National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NITT) has been analysed. The plant has been operational since June 2013. The climatic, irradiation conditions at the location are accounted, while the system performance is analysed. The output power of the PV array, power quality is assessed after the power conditioning and AC power supplied to the grid, consistency of the system and efficiency of the system have been utilised in the performance analysis attempted. The power quality parameters are Power Factor (PF), RMS Voltage, Total Voltage Harmonic Distortion (THD), Total Current Harmonic distortion has been measured and analysed. In addition, the cost benefits to NIT Trichy for installing the plant have also been analysed.

Keywords: photovoltaic plant; capacity factor performance metrics; performance ratio; power quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2021.115146

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2021 Vol.43 No.2/3, pp.247 - 261

Received: 16 May 2019
Accepted: 29 Aug 2020
Published online: 20 May 2021 *

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